Today's News

The College of Central Florida Levy Center is offering two courses to help computer users keep their machines in top condition.

First, the school is holding a Computer Repair and Troubleshooting course, scheduled for Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. Class time is slated to be 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to disassemble, configure and assemble the basic computer; and how to install the Windows Operating System. They also will learn about computer maintenance, upgrade and repair.

The College of Central Florida's successful Adult Education Program, which serves about 750 students per year, wants to do more than bestow Florida High School diplomas and General Equivalency Diplomas to students.

The program's seven educators at the Levy Center want to help graduates get something MORE — a successful entrance and graduation from college.

The Rev. Terry Wines is the new senior pastor for the First United Methodist Church of Chiefland, moving over from Shingle Creek United Methodist Church in Kissimmee. Wines was at Shingle Creek for six years.

Wines, and his wife, Amelia, will be taking over while Pastor Bill Knight is on sabbatical and his wife, Terry Knight, moves to serve Ellzey United Methodist Church.

The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) presented Levy County Commissioner Marsha Drew with the Certified County Commissioner (CCC) designation following her completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the association. Commissioner Drew received the designation during an awards ceremony held at the FAC Annual Conference in Hillsborough.

Haven Hospice’s Healing Hearts program hosted eight children at Camp Safe Haven on July 17 at First Baptist Church in Williston. The day camp, designed for children ages 6 to 12 who have experienced the loss of a loved one, provides an opportunity to have fun with their peers as well as sharing experiences.

Cedar Key FFA members! If you want to attend the national FFA meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., in October you MUST contact Adviser Dennis Voyles before Aug. 15 to reserve your room. Please call him at 352-339-2034 or email at davoyles@aol.com.

Looks like Williston High School graduate Jiwan James is making waves in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

James, 21, a switch-hitting outfielder for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws minor-league team, extended his hitting streak to 22 games last week, setting a new record for the franchise and setting the longest hitting streak so far this season for the South Atlantic League. On Sunday, however, James ended his streak at 24 games against Kannapolis.

Students filed into a classroom last Thursday at Chiefland High School, well aware that they would see some solemn examples of the terrible things that can happen behind the wheel of a vehicle.

About 15 participants, primarily from Chiefland and a few from Dixie County, were attending a session of the Levy County Teen Driver Improvement Program. The free course shows young drivers the consequences of operating a car while impaired or distracted.